African Story triumphs in Dubai World Cup horse race

African Story produced a brilliant finish to win the $10 million Dubai World Cup by 2 3/4 lengths Saturday in the United Arab Emirates in the world’s richest horse race.

The Godolphin horse is owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. With Silvestre De Sousa onboard, the 7-year-old gelding became the sixth winner in this 2,000-meter race for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

Starting from post six on the synthetic Tapeta track, 12-1 African Story caught up with Mukhadram with 200 meters to go. Mukhadram, owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s brother, Sheikh Hamdan, finished second and another Godolphin horse Cat O’Mountain, trained by Charlie Appleby, was third.

“There was a lot of pressure at the start of the race because this is our home and Godolphin is expected to do better than others,” De Sousa said. “The horse has got very good track form. He traveled so well and answered all the questions I asked him ... I got to track the leader on his outside and then in the straight all I had to do was take aim. It really was the perfect race for me.”

Ruler of the World, the son of Galileo and trained by Aiden O’Brien, failed to live up to its name and struggled with some distance to go.

Earlier, Japanese horses dominated the two main supporting events on turf in the nine-race card, which offered a total purse of $27.25 million.

Two-time Japan Cup champion Gentildonna was a narrow winner in the 2,400-meter $5 million Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, but Just A Way demolished the quality field at the $5 million Group 1 Dubai Duty Free to win the 1,800-meter feature race by 6 1/4 lengths.

In the Sheema Classic, Gentildonna, ridden by Ryan Moore, overcame a poor draw from post 12 to blitz past Cirrus Des Aigles and Ambivalent in the closing stages.

Just A Way had a powerful finish over the last 400 meters. South African Vercingetorix was second and Britain’s Dank third behind the Naosuke Sugai-trained champion.

Tokyo City Cup

Majestic Harbor took control near the three-eighths pole and opened up an insurmountable lead around the far turn to win the $100,000 Tokyo City Cup by three lengths over Easy Rider at Santa Anita Park.

The victory, worth $60,000, increased Majestic Harbor’s career earnings to $331,764, with five wins in 21 starts.

Florida Derby

Javier Castellano saw a couple horses in front of him and thought about steering Constitution to the outside in an effort to pass everyone.

Then a gap opened on the rail.

Constitution knew what to do from there, and the Kentucky Derby is his likely reward.

In only his third start, not to mention his first stakes race, Constitution won a fierce stride-for-stride battle down the stretch with Wildcat Red to take the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., giving trainer Todd Pletcher’s powerful stable yet another option and maybe a very real contender for the Run for the Roses on May 3.

“This colt’s come so far in such a short period of time,” Pletcher said. “You know, three months ago we were not even thinking about this. Everything’s fallen into place. It’s a real tribute to how talented he is and how far he’s been able to come.”

Constitution remained unbeaten, with all three of his victories coming at Gulfstream, where he broke his maiden on Jan. 11. He finished the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.16 and returned $8.60, $4.20 and $3.60 for the win.

“He’s a super horse,” said Castellano, who could be aboard Constitution again in the Kentucky Derby if he chooses.

Wildcat Red paid $4.80 and $3.40 for second. General a Rod paid $3.40 to show and Cairo Prince, which officially went off at 6-5 as the favorite, was fourth and beaten by nearly nine lengths.

Louisiana Derby

Vicar’s in Trouble was among smaller horses in the field for the $1 million Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in New Orleans.

The 3-year-old colt also is now a big enough earner to get a spot in the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Jockey Rosie Napravnik guided Vicar’s in Trouble to a commanding victory in the Louisiana Derby, one of the premier prep races for the Kentucky Derby.

“You know, he is a tiny horse but he’s got a great big heart,” Napravnik said.

Vicar’s in Trouble is the first Louisiana-bred horse to win the Louisiana Derby since Heaven Again in 1990.

The triumph gave the Michael Maker-trained horse two victories and a third-place at the three biggest stakes races the Fair Grounds Race Course hosts, with combined earnings of $760,000 for those races. He won the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes in January and finished third at the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes last month.

Vicar’s in Trouble, owned by Ken Ramsey, broke from the gate in the sixth post position as one of two 3-1 second choices. He took the lead coming around the first turn and remained in front from there, completing the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:50.3 and winning by 3 1/2 lengths over 9-5 favorite Intense Holiday.

Intense Holiday, winner of the Risen Star, remained near the front but was unable to mount a significant challenge down the stretch. His jockey, Mike Smith, credited Napravnik for riding, “A great race. A brilliant race, actually.

“It turned it into a two-furlong sprint,” Smith added.

Vicar’s in Trouble paid $8.60, $4.40 and $3. Intense Holiday, trained by Todd Pletcher, paid $3.20 and $2.60, and Commanding Curve paid $5.20. Both Vicar’s In Trouble and Intense Holiday already have qualified for the Kentucky Derby, though they could be held out by their owners for several reasons, such as a subsequent injury. Maker said he “absolutely” expects Vicar’s in Trouble to race in the Kentucky Derby.